"I see."
As Tian Cheng emerges from the storage pouch, she holds a piece of parchment in her hands.
This parchment is the simplified map of Hope City that Long Hua had received from Jiu Sheng.
Receiving the map from Tian Cheng, the others land as well.
"So where to?"
Towards Yao Ying's question, Long Hua points forward, and says—
"They call that building the "tower," that's our destination. Considering how there's people coming after us, let's just fly over. Tian Cheng, start making preparations."
"Understood."
Nodding her head, Tian Cheng summons over 250 combat bodies.
Looking at the white-robed combat bodies, Qing Ming Yang remarks—
"Numbers factor really were covered…"
"Senior, are we going to forcefully dismantle this city?"
Glancing at Lin Yu Heng, who had asked this, Long Hua smiles, but before the latter could answer—
*Siiii…*
"Obviously. We're on a tight schedule here, after all."
Bai Wen answers instead, as he emerges from a dark rift.
Following Bai Wen, workers of New Moon Village—all dressed in either red robes or black robes, emerge from the same rift. Strapped around these individuals' waists are storage pouches.
Cultivation base wise, all of them are in the Core Formation realm, and their numbers are somewhere in the seventies.
Stepping out of the group, Zhen Rong, who is dressed in light green robes, takes in the scenery, and remarks—
"Starlight obsidian?"
"Indeed. Should be sufficient for our purpose."
Saying this, Bai Wen swaps out his current attire for a set of white robes, which possesses a purple sun pattern on its sleeves.
"Surnamed Qing, surnamed Lin, you two come with me to the tower. Once our job there is done, you're to assist the workers with the dismantling efforts—while dealing with any enemies, who might hinder them. Little girl, do as you see fit. Lao Bai, keep an eye out."
Having said all that, Long Hua swaps out his attire for the blue robes that are decorated with golden wheat patterns at its hems.
Similarly, Tian Cheng and the others also changed their current attires out for archaic robes.
"Lao Long, give me a mask. I still need this face to go out in public."
"I doubt anyone would bother to remember that slut-like face of yours, especially so when you've already got a quarter of it covered."
"Do you really have any rights to say that? Your Dao Idol's face was quite something."
Ignoring the remark, and tossing Bai Wen a recognition inhibiting mask, Long Hua sets off with Qing Ming Yang and Lin Yu Heng.
As the three head off, Zhen Rong turns to the workers, and says—
"Right, keep in mind, our focus here is to collect materials, so do try to keep the fighting to a minimum. Also, whichever team manages to return with the highest amount of loot—shall receive a bonus."
"There's a bonus?"
"Oh?"
Hearing about a bonus, the workers of the village cheered—itching to get started.
"Spread out to cover more ground!"
At Zhen Rong's command, the workers split themselves into their assigned teams, and situate themselves near a building with heavy weapons in hand.
"Little Yao Ying, here."
"Hm?"
Towards Yao Ying, Zhen Rong tosses ten storage pouches to the former.
Catching the pouches, Yao Ying stores them away into the fold of her purple sash, prior to drawing Xu Zuo.
"Let's get away from this place; there'll be weapon spirits dropping in from here later."
Saying this, Bai Wen is the first to leave and is followed by Zhen Rong and Yao Ying.
"…"
With the area cleared, Tian Cheng and the combat bodies begin to set up a few landmines.
Upon the completion of this task, Tian Cheng leads the combat bodies away—to position themselves in the areas, which would allow them to ambush the incoming weapon spirits.
...…
"…"
Flipping the map in his hand over, and glancing down at the blueprint that is drawn on it—to make a final confirmation that he won't damage anything vital, Long Hua draws out Shui Yue.
Tossing the parchment aside—
"All good then."
Long Hua slashes with his sword—cutting out a door-sized breach on the largest building within this city that is referred to as the "tower."
Moving through the breach, and stepping onto the highest floor of the tower directly, Long Hua sees a pedestal shaped device.
Stabbed into the pedestal is a white staff that is decorated with a black crystal.
For reasons unclear, the air around the staff would distort.
Other than this device, there are four large tubular structures situated at the four corners of the vicinity. Besides those, there is a set of stairs, which lead to the floor below.
Approaching the staff with a frown, Lin Yu Heng remarks—
"A magic treasure? It feels…?"
Drawing closer to the staff as well, Qing Ming Yang gives it a quick glance, and says—
"It does feel kind of odd, but I can't say why…"
"This is a spatial magic treasure, and a powerful one at that."
Towards Long Hua's remark, the two widen their eyes.
Shaking his head, Long Hua adds—
"Don't bother to think about trying to take it. It seems to have been fine-tuned—to be used for a final time. Once it's used, it will burn itself out."
"Ai…"
"What a shame…"
"Whichever weapon spirit that possessed this magic treasure as their Relic, chances are they must have sacrificed themselves willingly."
"…"
"…"
Hearing this speculation, Qing Ming Yang and Lin Yu Heng turned silent, whereas Long Hua adds—
"To some people, there will always be matters that weigh more than their own life."
Smiling subtly, Long Hua raises a sigh, while thinking—
(The matters that weigh more than my life, if it can be realized… Then this would be my final life. …I'm very tired. I wonder… In which life did this fatigue started to become common company?)
Shaking off his thoughts, Long Hua takes out three storage pouches, and opens them, prior to tossing them into the air.
Immediately, piles of spirit stones rain out of the pouches—to fill the empty room.
Sheathing Shui Yue away, Long Hua says—
"Let's begin."
Simultaneously, the three rotate their cultivation bases, causing the spirit stones nearby to gradually shrink—with a few turning into dust immediately.
As the three raise their right hand towards the white staff, and begin to pour their spirit Qi onto it—
*Guuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!* the entirety of Hope City trembles, and the pool of Spirit Extracts—which can be seen around the edges of the city begin to boil, as bubbles form throughout its surface.
*Kakaka!!!* similarly to blooming dark flowers, the pointed roofs of the various buildings—split themselves off into fours triangular panels.
Present on the open-air floor of these buildings are the same tubular structures, which are present on the tower's highest floor.